2025 -- H 5094

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

     EXTENDING CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF MARTIN E. COOPER

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Kislak, Chippendale, Kazarian,
Craven, Ackerman, Fogarty, Kennedy, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: January 21, 2025

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deepest sadness that this House has learned of the passing of

Martin E. Cooper, the beloved husband of Betsy Cooper for forty-five years, and the devoted

father of Rachel Cooper, Leah Pisari and her husband, Edward, and Ben Cooper and Dave

McKinney. He was also blessed with a beautiful granddaughter, Hannah; and

     WHEREAS, Martin Cooper, better known as “Marty” to his family and many friends,

was born in Cleveland, Ohio, a son of the late Theodore and Hannah Cooper, and the brother of

Kenneth Cooper, Allen Cooper and his wife, Marcy, and the late Steven Cooper. Since 1986, he

had resided in North Kingstown; and

     WHEREAS, A well-respected and admired gentleman, Mr. Cooper had previously been a

Marketing & Communications Director for the former American Insulated Wire Corp., and had

been the Community Relations Director for the Jewish Alliance for many years before retiring in

2017; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Cooper was a member of the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice

and Bias and had always been willing to contribute, whether through his passion for an issue or

facilitation of social media. As a commission member, he was a guest speaker for an audience of

police recruits and shared his traumatic story of childhood anti-Semitism that fostered his

commitment to stand up to bigotry in all its forms; and

     WHEREAS, Dedicated to his faith, Mr. Cooper was a devoted member of the Jewish

Council of Public Affairs, the RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty with Faith, and was a

former member of Temple Am David; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, Mr. Cooper was a member of the Holocaust Genocide

Education Committee, and had worked with the General Assembly on the passage of a law in

2016 that required school districts to teach students about genocide and the Holocaust, and

required the State Department of Education to provide Holocaust and genocide curriculum

materials to school districts starting in the 2017-2018 school year; and

     WHEREAS, Martin Cooper lived a life committed to the pursuit of justice for all and will

forever be remembered in the hearts of those who had the privilege to be a part of his amazing

life; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

extends our deepest sympathy and condolences on the passing of Martin E. Cooper. May his

memory be a blessing; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mrs. Betsy Cooper and Family.

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